AI Image
Orionid meteor shower peaks Wednesday night with a lurking noreaster
The Boston Globe • • science
Key Points:
- The annual Orionid meteor shower, caused by debris from Halley’s Comet, peaks Wednesday night into early Thursday, offering bright meteors and occasional fireballs visible in the autumn sky.
- Viewing conditions in Southeastern New England may be hampered by clouds from an offshore nor’easter and a nearly 80% full moon, which will reduce visibility of meteors.
- The Orionids typically produce up to 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, with the best viewing time between midnight and dawn, especially after moonset around 3-4 a.m. Thursday.
- Northern Massachusetts, interior New Hampshire, Vermont, and most of Maine are expected to have clearer skies and better viewing opportunities away from coastal cloud cover.
- The Orionid meteor shower remains active into early November, providing additional chances to observe meteors on clear nights after the nor’easter passes.
